Expat complaints lead to Ajijic, Lake Chapala bar closures

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After complaints from neighbors about excessive noise and exceeding their permitted hours, since the beginning of the current administration, three bars in the Ajijic delegation were closed by the Directorate of Inspection and Surveillance Regulations of Chapala. 

These are La Mezcalería, La Tía, and La Parranda Bar (these last two were closed months ago), all located in the center of the town that, for exceeding their schedules and presenting high noise levels, were sanctioned, informed the person in charge of Maximiliano Macías Arceo office. 

The official explained that the administrators of the establishments that were closed were warned about the complaints of the neighbors; however, they ignored it.  

“The closed businesses had already been warned beforehand of the rules that they were breaking, especially regarding hours. We know that young people have their places of recreation and we do not need to get to this point. In some situations, the owners think that there will be no repercussions, but they cannot be passing over everything”, commented Macías Arceo.

Inspectors from the Directorate of Regulations are the ones who monitor the areas with this type of business during weekend nights, ensuring that they comply with the closing hours, as well as that the volume is within the permitted decibels, which is measured with a sound level meter that was donated to the municipality. 

The closures have caused a stir among the inhabitants of Ajijic, who, both on social networks and in interviews conducted by this medium, have shown conflicting positions among themselves, it is right or wrong to resort to this type of sanctions.

Most of those who complain are Americans, they are not from here and very few attend those places, to decide for them. Now that, if you want to start with closings that are even, and do it also to event halls, events on the canvas, and even in the square, which has music at full volume, sometimes all night, and nobody calls them attention, nor does it regulate them,” shared Laura.

In contrast, there are those who side with the authority, ensuring that if they set an example with businesses that evade the rules, the others will automatically align themselves with what is indicated by the Register and Licenses. “There is no way that they continue with their despapaye if they have already seen that others were closed down for the same thing,” said another interviewee.

Maximiliano Macías added that, when requesting and paying for the licenses, the owners of these businesses are given the operating hours and rules of their businesses, and he also suggested that they take measures so that their clients leave as closing time approaches. .

According to the person in charge of dispatch, the hours allowed for this type of establishment are from Monday to Thursday and Sunday, with a maximum until twelve in the morning, on Fridays and Saturdays until 2:00 in the morning. 

On the other hand, live music is allowed until midnight any day of the week, while after that time music is allowed, but with a low volume. As for the allowed decibels, it was established at a maximum of 55, adhering to the Anti-Noise Law of the state of Jalisco.

Of the three closed establishments, La Tía and Parranda Bar have already reopened their doors, while El Camaleón appears as denounced by the neighbors, but has not been closed. 

Source: semanariolaguna.com

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